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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Daily Dress: Esther Williams

In keeping with the "bathing beauty" theme, is anyone more apropos than Esther Williams? I'm quite sure she's modeling a swimsuit here, but I love the bodice style and it could be adapted very effectively to a dress. I very much like the use of stripes across the little collar (does anyone know what the word is for that type of neckline treatment? I always call them collars, but that doesn't seem quite right). This neckline feature is very easy to draft and add to your favorite sundress. In fact, I've been planning a tutorial on the topic! And doesn't the bow just set it off perfectly?

Oooh, I so hope you have time to do a tutorial on that neckline treatment! I have some striped fabric that would be perfect, but I'm too much of a nervous nellie to draft it up without reading about it first!

That is a great neckline feature, but I have no idea what it is called. The bow is so cute! Isn't it the little details that make things just perfect? We had a dress at the dry cleaner's where I work today that had grosgrain ribbon trim at the waist. Three separate rows of 1/2" ribbon about an inch apart, and in the very center, there were adorable tiny bows of the same ribbon. It was understated, but so lovely. I wish I would have had my camera with me!

"Flange." I would call it a "flange." McCalls had a similar treatment on a Jaqueline Smith sundress-and-jacket pattern in the late 1970s, in the heyday of the original Charlie's Angels, before JS started "designing" for K-Mart. I loved the dresses I made from it. Was it just that the drawing reminded me of that t.v. character/model? Sigh. I am too old.

A little side note: A few years ago, my best friend and I visited Michigan, my home state. We started with Greenfield Village and ended up at Mackinac (mack in aw) Island. We stayed at the Grand Hotel [ http://www.grandhotel.com/index.php ] which is wonderful, and took one of the tours of this historic island. We were told that the large swimming pool below the hotel was originally installed for Ester Williams for a film she was making. She refused to film in the pool but hotel guests can enjoy it all they want.

Yes, old age is taking over my brain. Found the pattern -- McCalls, 1980, #6987. NOT a Jacqueline Smith pattern, YES the drawings look like her Charlie's Angel character. "Misses' Jacket and Dress: Short, lined, buttoned jacket has notched collar, welt pocket, short sleeves with pleated caps. Back zippered dress in two lengths with flared skirt has fitted bodice with shaped band; optional strap hooks to front. Purchased belt is optional." (A faced, shaped band folds over the top of a plain, strapless bodice -- pattern looks much like the lovely rose piqué you model in June 16 posting!)